FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 8, 2016
Contact: Rohit Mahajan 202 530 4976 <mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org>
mahajanr(a)rfa.org
Radio Free Asia's Trafficking Documentary Describes Vietnamese Mother's
Ordeal, Escape
Video Part of 'Breaking Free' Series that Showcases Survivors' Stories
WASHINGTON - On International Women's Day, Radio Free Asia (RFA) today
released a short documentary, "Vietnam: Cost of Living
<http://www.rfa.org/english/breaking-free/videocostofliving.html> " -- the
eighth installment of the online RFA multimedia series "Breaking Free:
Stories of escape from traffickers
<http://www.rfa.org/english/breaking-free/> ." This seven-minute video
report from Vietnam tells the story of a married woman and mother who was
tricked into working in the Malaysian sex trade by a female relative.
"On International Women's Day, RFA continues to throw a spotlight on the
stories of human trafficking survivors so those who are victimized can have
their voices heard as both a warning and an inspiration," said Libby Liu,
President of RFA. "It's essential that their stories are told so others can
learn.
"Our commitment to eye-opening journalism at RFA in some of the world's
toughest media environments is essential to the business of informing people
who lack free press and free speech."
The video follows the story of Xuan, whose family textile business in
Vietnam went into heavy debt in 2013. Against the advice of her husband,
Xuan answered her cousin's call to join her in Malaysia to earn a higher
salary. Once there, the job was not at all what she had expected. She was
forced to perform sex work and endure terrible living conditions. Xuan made
a dramatic escape to be reunited with her family. Xuan's story is not
unique, as many women are unwittingly tricked into trafficking by family
members promising a better life. Xuan now works with police and
anti-trafficking groups to help the other women and girls she met in
Malaysia during her ordeal.
The video is part of a larger series called "Breaking Free: Stories of
escape from traffickers," which focuses on the issue of human trafficking in
China and Southeast Asia, including forced labor at fisheries, abuse of
undocumented workers, and the bride market. The series explores various ways
survivors of trafficking have escaped enslavement and possible solutions to
the widespread problem. These include the essential role of local NGOs and
the need for the outspoken testimony of survivors to bring light to these
situations and to the means by which people are trafficked. RFA's series --
published in the English, Khmer, Vietnamese and Burmese languages -- also
includes several animated videos and provides links to RFA's related
coverage.
"Breaking Free" follows a previous, award-winning multimedia documentary
series "Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery
<http://www.rfa.org/english/news/special/trafficking/home.html> ," which was
published in 2012. This first series was based on investigative reports by
RFA's video reporters, often traveling under cover in China and Southeast
Asia. Their in-depth reporting exposes the underlying corruption and lack of
local media attention that fuels the growing problem of human trafficking
and forced labor.
# # #
Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and
publishing online news, information, and commentary in nine East Asian
languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media.
RFA's broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and
expression, including the freedom to "seek, receive, and impart information
and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." RFA is funded by
an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
Rohit Mahajan | Radio Free Asia | Director of Public Affairs
<mailto:mahajanr@rfa.org> mahajanr(a)rfa.org | O: 202.530.4976 | M:
202.489.8021
Tibetan Monk Burns to Death in Kardze Protest
March 1, 2016 - A Tibetan monk set himself ablaze and died on Monday in southwestern China’s Sichuan province in an apparent challenge to Beijing’s rule in the first such protest in a Tibetan area of China this year, a source in the region told RFA’s Tibetan Service.
Kalsang Wangdu, a monk of the Retsokha Aryaling monastery, self-immolated at around 4:00 p.m. on Feb. 29 near his monastery in the Kardze (in Chinese, Ganzi) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture’s Nyagrong (Xinlong) county, RFA’s source said, contacting RFA on social media and speaking on condition of anonymity.
“[While he burned], he called out for Tibet’s complete independence,” the source said, adding that witnesses to Wangdu’s protest “intervened,” intending to take him to Sichuan’s provincial capital for treatment.
“However, he died on the way before reaching Chengdu,” he said, adding, “His father’s name is Sotra, and his mother’s name is Urgyen Dolma.”
Wangdu’s self-immolation could not be immediately confirmed, and authorities were not available for comment. But his action would bring to 144 the total number of burnings by Tibetans living in China since the wave of fiery protests calling for Tibetan freedom and the return of exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama began in 2009.
Tibetans living in Kardze prefecture are known for their strong sense of Tibetan national identity and frequently stage protests alone or in groups opposing rule by Beijing.
Meanwhile, a young Tibetan student living in India set himself on fire on Monday to protest China’s rule in Tibetan areas after telling his parents he hoped to do something “for the cause of Tibet,” a Tibetan source in exile told RFA.
Dorje Tsering, 16, set himself ablaze near a housing complex for elderly Tibetans in Dehra Dun at about 8:30 a.m. on Feb. 29, RFA’s source, housing complex staff member Lobsang Tsultrim, said.
“He was severely injured in the fire, and was quickly moved to the Safdurjung hospital in Delhi,” Tsultrim said.
“He is reported to have suffered burns over 95 percent of his body,” he said.
Tsering had previously hinted at his coming protest, asking his parents if they would be happy if he was able to do something for the cause of Tibet, Tsultrim said.
“Yesterday, he did exactly what he said he would do,” he added.
“I did discuss my intentions with my parents, who told me they would kill themselves if I did this,” Tsering said from his hospital bed, speaking in a video.
“[But] I have the will to do something for the Tibetan cause and thought that I could sacrifice this body for the Tibetan cause,” he said.
“I want His Holiness the Dalai Lama to live long and for Tibet to achieve its independence,” he said.
Tsering’s protest “was a sign of how deep and sustained opposition to Chinese rule remains [even] among Tibetans outside Tibet,” London-based Free Tibet director Eleanor Byrne-Rosengren said in a statement Tuesday.
“Whether inside or outside the country, young Tibetans feel the sense of injustice and are driven to act because of it,” she said.
Reported by Yangdon Demo for RFA’s Tibetan Service. Translated by Karma Dorjee. Written in English by Richard Finney.
View this s tory online at: http://www.rfa.org/english/news/tibet/burns-03012016164905.html
Radio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation broadcasting and publishing online news , information, and commentary in nine East Asian languages to listeners who do not have access to full and free news media. RFA ’s broadcasts seek to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and expression, including the freedom to “seek, receive, and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.” RFA is funded by an annual grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors.
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All media inquiries may be sent to Rohit Mahajan at mahajanr(a)rfa.org .
